238 ARCTIC VOYAGES. Chap. VIII. 



caster Sound, and, proceeding through Barrow's 

 Strait, endeavour to make, through Prince Regent's 

 Inlet, a passage into the sea which bounds the con- 

 tinent (of America), on its northern coast, and 

 thence westward to the Pacific. The reason assigned 

 for this route in the Instructions, is, — " The strong 

 opinion which you have conveyed to us in favour of 

 the attempt through Prince Regent's Inlet, the con- 

 fident hope which you express that the ice, which 

 at the period of the year when you visited the Inlet 

 obstructed your passage, was likely to be removed 

 by circumstances of season and weather, within 

 the navigable part of the year ;" and, it is added, 

 " the confidence which we are justified in placing 

 in your judgment and experience, determine us to 

 authorize and direct you to pursue the course which 

 you consider the most promising, namely, through 

 Prince Regent's Inlet." 



On the 18th June, having reached the lat. of 

 60-f °, they saw the first iceberg, and from that time 

 fell in with those bodies of ice almost daily. At a 

 Danish settlement in Davis's Strait, called Lievely, 

 they found Lieutenant Graat, who had been em- 

 ployed on a survey of the Greenland coast, and 

 received much civility from him and other gentle- 

 men belonging to the settlement. As soon as the 

 stores and provisions were transhipped the William 

 Harris was released and ordered to return home. 

 On leaving the harbour the Hecla struck on a 



